Header assembly and heat exchanger

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a header assembly (100) for a heat exchanger and a heat exchanger having the header assembly (100). The header assembly (100) includes: an outer tube (1), the outer tube (1) having a tube wall (11); an inner tube (2), the inner tube (2) being provided in the outer tube (1) and having a tube wall (21) and a through hole (22) penetrating through the tube wall (21) of the inner tube (2), and a cavity (30) being formed between the outer tube (1) and the inner tube (2); and an opening (12) formed in the tube wall (11) a of the outer tube (1) and used for communicating the cavity (30) between the outer tube (1) and the inner tube (2) with a heat exchange g tube. The header assembly (100) and the heat exchanger having the header assembly (100) can improve heat exchange efficiency.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a National Stage application of International PatentApplication No. PCT/CN2019/099620, filed on Aug. 7, 2019, which claimspriority to Chinese patent application no. 201811490952.0 submitted tothe Chinese Patent Office on Dec. 6, 2018, the entire disclosed contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a header assembly fora heat exchanger, and a heat exchanger having the header assembly.

BACKGROUND

A heat exchanger comprises a header and heat exchange tubes.

SUMMARY

An object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide aheader assembly for a heat exchanger, and a heat exchanger having theheader assembly, by means of which it is possible for example toincrease heat exchange efficiency.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a header assembly for aheat exchanger, the header assembly comprising: an outer tube, having atube wall; an inner tube, disposed within the outer tube and having atube wall and a through-hole penetrating the tube wall of the innertube, with a cavity being formed between the outer tube and inner tube;and an opening, formed in the tube wall of the outer tube and configuredto connect the cavity between the outer tube and inner tube with a heatexchange tube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the header assemblyfor a heat exchanger further comprises: a connecting duct extendingoutward from the tube wall of the outer tube and used for connecting theheat exchange tube; the opening connects the cavity between the outertube and inner tube with the heat exchange tube via an internal hole ofthe connecting duct.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an end of the heatexchange tube is inserted in the internal hole of the connecting duct.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner tube is asingle inner tube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the header assemblyfor a heat exchanger further comprises: a dividing member, which dividesthe cavity into multiple mutually isolated chambers arranged in theaxial direction of the outer tube, the multiple chambers comprising afirst chamber and a second chamber, wherein: the opening comprises afirst opening and a second opening; the heat exchange tube comprises afirst heat exchange tube and a second heat exchange tube; and the innertube comprises: a first inner tube, having a first tube wall and a firstthrough-hole penetrating the first tube wall of the first inner tube,the first through-hole leading to the first chamber, and the firstopening connecting the first chamber with the first heat exchange tube;and a second inner tube, having a second tube wall and a secondthrough-hole penetrating the second tube wall of the second inner tube,the second through-hole leading to the second chamber, and the secondopening connecting the second chamber with the second heat exchangetube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, multiple sets offirst chamber(s) and multiple sets of second chamber(s) are arrangedalternately, each of the multiple sets of first chamber(s) comprisingone or more first chamber, and each of the multiple sets of secondchamber(s) comprising one or more second chamber.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the firstchamber and second chamber comprises a first compartment located at thatside of the first inner tube and second inner tube which is remote fromthe opening, and a second compartment located at that side of the firstinner tube and second inner tube which is close to the opening; thefirst through-hole and second through-hole lead to the firstcompartments of the first chamber and second chamber respectively, andthe first compartments are in communication with the secondcompartments.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the firstcompartment of the first chamber is in communication with the secondcompartment of the first chamber via a first communication hole formedin at least one of the tube wall of the outer tube, the tube wall of thefirst inner tube and the tube wall of the second inner tube; and thefirst compartment of the second chamber is in communication with thesecond compartment of the second chamber via a second communication holeformed in at least one of the tube wall of the outer tube, the tube wallof the first inner tube and the tube wall of the second inner tube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the firstthrough-hole is located at that side of the center line of the firstinner tube which is close to the second inner tube, and the firstcommunication hole is located at that side of the first inner tube whichis remote from the second inner tube; and the second through-hole islocated at that side of the center line of the second inner tube whichis close to the first inner tube, and the second communication hole islocated at that side of the second inner tube which is remote from thefirst inner tube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the firstcompartment of the first chamber is in communication with the secondcompartment of the first chamber via the first communication hole alone;and the first compartment of the second chamber is in communication withthe second compartment of the second chamber via the secondcommunication hole alone.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the header assemblyis formed by 3D printing.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a heatexchanger, comprising: the header assembly as described above.

By adopting the header assembly for a heat exchanger according to anembodiment of the present invention, and the heat exchanger having theheader assembly, it is possible for example to increase the heatexchange efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional drawing of a header assembly fora heat exchanger according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2-4 are schematic sectional views of the header assembly for aheat exchanger according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic three-dimensional drawing of a header assembly fora heat exchanger according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the header assembly for a heatexchanger according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic three-dimensional drawing of a header assembly fora heat exchanger according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 8-10 are schematic sectional views of the header assembly for aheat exchanger according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is explained further below in conjunction with thedrawings and particular embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, a heat exchanger according to an embodiment ofthe present invention comprises a header assembly 100 and heat exchangetubes, the header assembly 100 being connected to ends of the heatexchange tubes and being in fluid communication with the heat exchangetubes; the heat exchanger may further comprise fins, wherein the finsare arranged between adjacent heat exchange tubes or the heat exchangetubes are inserted in fin holes or fin slots of the fins.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, the header assembly 100 for a heat exchangeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an outertube 1 having a tube wall 11; an inner tube 2, disposed within the outertube 1 and having a tube wall 21 and a through-hole 22 penetrating thetube wall 21 of the inner tube 2, with a cavity 30 being formed betweenthe outer tube 1 and inner tube 2; and openings 12, formed in the tubewall 11 of the outer tube 1 and configured to connect the cavity 30between the outer tube 1 and inner tube 2 with the heat exchange tubes.The header assembly 100 may be formed by 3D printing. For example, theheader assembly 100 is formed by an additive manufacturing technique.The header assembly 100 may be integrally formed from the same material.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the header assembly 100 further comprises: connecting ducts 3extending outward from the tube wall 11 of the outer tube 1 and used forconnecting the heat exchange tubes; the openings 12 connect the cavity30 between the outer tube 1 and inner tube 2 with the heat exchangetubes via internal holes 31 of the connecting ducts 3. The ends of theheat exchange tubes may be inserted in the internal holes 31 of theconnecting ducts 3, or the ends of the heat exchange tubes may be weldedto the connecting ducts 3.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the inner tube 2 may be a single inner tube 2. That is tosay, the header assembly 100 may comprise only one inner tube 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the header assembly 100 further comprises: dividing members4, which divide the cavity 30 into multiple mutually isolated chambers32 arranged in the axial direction of the outer tube 1, the multiplechambers 32 comprising a first chamber 32A and a second chamber 32B. Theopenings 12 comprise a first opening 12A and a second opening 12B. Theheat exchange tube comprises a first heat exchange tube and a secondheat exchange tube. The inner tube 2 comprises: a first inner tube 2A,having a first tube wall 21A and a first through-hole 22A penetratingthe first tube wall 21A of the first inner tube 2A, the firstthrough-hole 22A leading to the first chamber 32A, and the first opening12A connecting the first chamber 32A with the first heat exchange tube;and a second inner tube 2B, having a second tube wall 21B and a secondthrough-hole 22B penetrating the second tube wall 21B of the secondinner tube 2B, the second through-hole 22B leading to the second chamber32B, and the second opening 12B connecting the second chamber 32B withthe second heat exchange tube. The dividing member 4 may be a partitionplate.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, multiple sets of first chamber(s) 32A and multiple sets ofsecond chamber(s) 32B may be arranged alternately, each of the multiplesets of first chamber(s) 32A comprising one or more first chamber 32A,and each of the multiple sets of second chamber(s) 32B comprising one ormore second chamber 32B. That is to say, the arrangement consists of oneset of first chamber(s) 32A, one set of second chamber(s) 32B, one setof first chamber(s) 32A, one set of second chamber(s) 32B The firstopening 12A and second opening 12B, the first through-hole 22A andsecond through-hole 22B, the first heat exchange tube and second heatexchange tube, and a first communication hole 53A and secondcommunication hole 53B are arranged in a corresponding fashion. Forexample, each set of first chamber(s) 32A comprises one first chamber32A, and each set of second chamber(s) 32B comprises one second chamber32B; or each set of first chamber(s) 32A comprises two first chambers32A, and each set of second chamber(s) 32B comprises two second chambers32B.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, each of the first chamber 32A and second chamber 32Bcomprises a first compartment 51 located at that side of the first innertube 2A and second inner tube 2B which is remote from the opening 12,and a second compartment 52 located at that side of the first inner tube2A and second inner tube 2B which is close to the opening 12; the firstthrough-hole 22A and second through-hole 22B lead to the firstcompartments 51 of the first chamber 32A and second chamber 32Brespectively, and the first compartments 51 are in communication withthe second compartments 52.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the first compartment 51 of the first chamber 32A is incommunication with the second compartment 52 of the first chamber 32Avia the first communication hole 53A (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 6) formed in atleast one of the tube wall 11 of the outer tube 1, the tube wall 21 ofthe first inner tube 2A and the tube wall 21 of the second inner tube2B; and the first compartment 51 of the second chamber 32B is incommunication with the second compartment 52 of the second chamber 32Bvia the second communication hole 53B (see FIG. 4) formed in at leastone of the tube wall 11 of the outer tube 1, the tube wall 21 of thefirst inner tube 2A and the tube wall 21 of the second inner tube 2B.For example, the first through-hole 22A is located at that side of thecenter line of the first inner tube 2A which is close to the secondinner tube 2B, and the first communication hole 53A is located at thatside of the first inner tube 2A which is remote from the second innertube 2B; and the second through-hole 22B is located at that side of thecenter line of the second inner tube 2B which is close to the firstinner tube 2A, and the second communication hole 53B is located at thatside of the second inner tube 2B which is remote from the first innertube 2A. For example, the first inner tube 2A and second inner tube 2Bare connected together and are connected to the tube wall 11 of theouter tube 1, thus the first inner tube 2A and second inner tube 2B forman axially extending partition wall; the first compartment 51 of thefirst chamber 32A may be in communication with the second compartment 52of the first chamber 32A via the first communication hole 53A alone, andthe first compartment 51 of the second chamber 32B may be incommunication with the second compartment 52 of the second chamber 32Bvia the second communication hole 53B alone. According to one example ofthe present invention, the first communication hole 53A may be in atleast one of the following positions: a position between the tube wall11 of the outer tube 1 and the tube wall 21 of the first inner tube 2A,a position between the tube wall 11 of the outer tube 1 and the tubewall 21 of the second inner tube 2B, and a position between the tubewall 21 of the first inner tube 2A and the tube wall 21 of the secondinner tube 2B; and the second communication hole 53B may be in at leastone of the following positions: a position between the tube wall 11 ofthe outer tube 1 and the tube wall 21 of the first inner tube 2A, aposition between the tube wall 11 of the outer tube 1 and the tube wall21 of the second inner tube 2B, and a position between the tube wall 21of the first inner tube 2A and the tube wall 21 of the second inner tube2B.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the inner tube 2, first inner tube 2A and second inner tube2B may have a cross section of any suitable shape such as round, oval orsemicircular, and the outer tube 1 may have a cross section of anysuitable shape such as round, oval, semicircular or rectangular.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the header assembly may comprise a connecting tube; theconnecting tube 6 is connected to the inner tube 2, or the connectingtube 6 extends out of the outer tube 1 in the axial direction from theinner tube 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the header assembly may comprise a first connecting tube 6Aand a second connecting tube 6B; the first connecting tube 6A and secondconnecting tube 6B are connected to the first inner tube 2A and secondinner tube 2B respectively, or the first connecting tube 6A and secondconnecting tube 6B extend out of the outer tube 1 in the axial directionfrom the first inner tube 2A and second inner tube 2B.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the header assembly for a heat exchangeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention, and the heatexchanger having the header assembly, operate in the following manner.

A first refrigerant and a second refrigerant flow into the first innertube 2A and second inner tube 2B respectively. The first refrigerant andsecond refrigerant flow in the same fashion; thus, the first refrigerantis taken as an example for explanation. The first refrigerant flows intothe first inner tube 2A at low speed, and then enters the firstcompartment 51 via the first through-hole 22A. When new, high-speedfirst refrigerant flows into the first compartment 51, a greater degreeof turbulence arises, so that gaseous first refrigerant and liquid firstrefrigerant mix, thereby helping to increase ebullition of the firstrefrigerant in the heat exchange tube, to increase heat exchangeefficiency. After mixing fully, the first refrigerant flows into theheat exchange tube via the first communication hole 53A. Just like thefirst through-hole 22A, the first communication hole 53A is small, suchthat the first refrigerant flows into the heat exchange tube at highspeed. From beginning to end, the first refrigerant and secondrefrigerant are completely isolated from each other; thus, the headerassembly for a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, and the heat exchanger having the header assembly, may beused in a dual system having two types of refrigerant.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the number of openings 12 or the number of connecting ducts 3may be the same as, or different from, the number of through-holes 22.The through-holes 22 may have the same size or diameter, or differentsizes or diameters; the first communication holes 53A may have the samesize or diameter, or different sizes or diameters; the secondcommunication holes 53B may have the same size or diameter, or differentsizes or diameters; and the size or diameter of the first communicationhole 53A may be the same as, or different from, the size or diameter ofthe second communication hole 53B.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the internal hole 31 of the connecting duct 3 may have anysuitable cross section such as round, oval, rectangular or semicircular,as long as it can mate with or be connected to the heat exchange tube.

By adopting the header assembly for a heat exchanger according to anembodiment of the present invention, and the heat exchanger having theheader assembly, it is possible for example to increase the heatexchange efficiency. In addition, the distribution of refrigerant amongthe heat exchange tubes is improved, gaseous refrigerant and liquidrefrigerant are mixed more effectively, and ebullition of refrigerant isencouraged.

By adopting the header assembly for a heat exchanger according to anembodiment of the present invention, and the heat exchanger having theheader assembly, it is possible to simplify the structure of a dualsystem circulating two types of refrigerant.

When the header assembly for a heat exchanger according to an embodimentof the present invention, and the heat exchanger having the headerassembly, are adopted, the first compartment 51 can act as a turbulencecompartment for mixing gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, andthe first communication hole 53A and second communication hole 53B maybe capillary tubes or have the function of capillary tubes, for mixinggaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant again before the refrigerantflows into the heat exchange tubes, thereby encouraging ebullition ofrefrigerant.

In addition, by adopting the header assembly for a heat exchangeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention, and the heatexchanger having the header assembly, it is possible to facilitate andstabilize assembly of the heat exchanger, to prevent internal leakage.

Although the above embodiments have been described, certain features inthe above embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments.

1. A header assembly for a heat exchanger, comprising: an outer tube,having a tube wall; an inner tube, disposed within the outer tube andhaving a tube wall and a through-hole penetrating the tube wall of theinner tube, with a cavity being formed between the outer tube and innertube; and an opening, formed in the tube wall of the outer tube andconfigured to connect the cavity between the outer tube and inner tubewith a heat exchange tube.
 2. The header assembly for a heat exchangeras claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a connecting duct extendingoutward from the tube wall of the outer tube and used for connecting theheat exchange tube; the opening connects the cavity between the outertube and inner tube with the heat exchange tube via an internal hole ofthe connecting duct.
 3. The header assembly for a heat exchanger asclaimed in claim 1, wherein: an end of the heat exchange tube isinserted in the internal hole of the connecting duct.
 4. The headerassembly for a heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the innertube is a single inner tube.
 5. The header assembly for a heat exchangeras claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a dividing member, whichdivides the cavity into multiple mutually isolated chambers arranged inthe axial direction of the outer tube, the multiple chambers comprisinga first chamber and a second chamber, wherein: the opening comprises afirst opening and a second opening; the heat exchange tube comprises afirst heat exchange tube and a second heat exchange tube; and the innertube comprises: a first inner tube, having a first tube wall and a firstthrough-hole penetrating the first tube wall of the first inner tube,the first through-hole leading to the first chamber, and the firstopening connecting the first chamber with the first heat exchange tube;and a second inner tube, having a second tube wall and a secondthrough-hole penetrating the second tube wall of the second inner tube,the second through-hole leading to the second chamber, and the secondopening connecting the second chamber with the second heat exchangetube.
 6. The header assembly for a heat exchanger as claimed in claim 5,wherein: multiple sets of first chamber(s) and multiple sets of secondchamber(s) are arranged alternately, each of the multiple sets of firstchamber(s) comprising one or more first chamber, and each of themultiple sets of second chamber(s) comprising one or more secondchamber.
 7. The header assembly for a heat exchanger as claimed in claim5, wherein: each of the first chamber and second chamber comprises afirst compartment located at that side of the first inner tube andsecond inner tube which is remote from the opening, and a secondcompartment located at that side of the first inner tube and secondinner tube which is close to the opening; the first through-hole andsecond through-hole lead to the first compartments of the first chamberand second chamber respectively, and the first compartments are incommunication with the second compartments.
 8. The header assembly for aheat exchanger as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the first compartment ofthe first chamber is in communication with the second compartment of thefirst chamber via a first communication hole formed in at least one ofthe tube wall of the outer tube, the tube wall of the first inner tubeand the tube wall of the second inner tube; and the first compartment ofthe second chamber is in communication with the second compartment ofthe second chamber via a second communication hole formed in at leastone of the tube wall of the outer tube, the tube wall of the first innertube and the tube wall of the second inner tube.
 9. The header assemblyfor a heat exchanger as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the firstthrough-hole is located at that side of the center line of the firstinner tube which is close to the second inner tube, and the firstcommunication hole is located at that side of the first inner tube whichis remote from the second inner tube; and the second through-hole islocated at that side of the center line of the second inner tube whichis close to the first inner tube, and the second communication hole islocated at that side of the second inner tube which is remote from thefirst inner tube.
 10. The header assembly for a heat exchanger asclaimed in claim 8, wherein: the first compartment of the first chamberis in communication with the second compartment of the first chamber viathe first communication hole alone; and the first compartment of thesecond chamber is in communication with the second compartment of thesecond chamber via the second communication hole alone.
 11. The headerassembly for a heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the headerassembly is formed by 3D printing.
 12. A heat exchanger, comprising: theheader assembly as claimed in claim 1.